Pentagon’s Use of Cyber Ops Not Disclosed to Senators Highlights Lack of Government Transparency in Cyber World

A classified report to Congress by the Pentagon, obtained by The Associated Press, fails to disclose the cyber activities employed by the Pentagon. The Senate Armed Services Committee voiced concerns that cyber activities were not included in the quarterly report on clandestine activities. But Assistant Secretary for Special Operations, Mr. Michael Vickers suggests that such emerging high-tech operations are not specifically listed in the law — a further indication that cyber oversight is still a murky work in progress for the President and his administration. Mr. Vickers told the committee that the requirement specifically calls for clandestine human intelligence activity. But if confirmed, he said, he would review the reporting requirements and support expanding the information included in the report. “It would be my intent, if confirmed, to fully comply with that responsibility, to include cyber activities,” he said.